< Previousgetting in and out. “Overall, the ROI of holding one event with greater over- all attendance was a huge win for the organization,” Everett says. “Not only did they optimize their budget, but they had a more in-depth connection with their audience.” AMI produced a national sales meeting for DHL in Las Vegas pre- pandemic, and after-work activities included backstage tours, and meet- and-greets with the entertainers, which McNeill notes was a “huge hit.” The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) has been planning meetings and conferences in Las Vegas for more than 25 years. “Some of our confer- ences rotate in and out of the city, while others are permanent ‘residents,’” says Stephanie Dumey, CMP, senior man- ager, meetings & conferences for the AICPA. “Las Vegas has something to offer everyone. It starts with great lift and easy access in and out of the airport to a wide range of venues. Las Vegas is the type of city where you can accom- plish anything, thanks in large part to the high quality of event services and talented professionals available.” AICPA’s ENGAGE event recently celebrated its fifth anniversary in Las Vegas. It all started in Las Vegas in 2017 with more than 4,200 accounting and finance professionals, speakers, exhibitors and sponsors. “We combined five of our long-standing individual conferences into a five-day, 320-session, nine-track mega event and, wow, did we learn a lot that first year,” Dumey says. “The MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena and TopGolf Las Vegas partnered with us on a level that far exceeded our expectations right from the start. And we [were] thrilled to be back for the live portion of our hybrid event at ARIA and Park MGM Theatre for our ENGAGE 2021.” MGM Resorts International has a significant presence in Las Vegas. In addition to ARIA Resort & Casino and Park MGM, other properties in Las Vegas include flagship property MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, Bella- gio, Vdara Hotel & Spa, Mandalay Bay, Luxor and The Mirage Hotel & Casino, to name a few. The MGM Grand Con- ference Center offers 850,000-sf of meeting and event space with a 5,500- sf outdoor courtyard. MGM Resorts touts its Convene with Confidence program as one of the most comprehensive health and safety plans around, saying it’s designed to get businesses back to meeting in person. Convene with Confidence consists of detailed protocols that incorporate health and safety into every aspect of the convention and meeting process. Efforts range from smart planning of the event itself to contactless check-in and increased cleaning schedules of common areas, with special attention paid to high-con- tact areas such as doorknobs. Now fully operational within the Convene with Confidence ecosystem are several advancements, including an optional COVID-19 testing protocol that delivers fast results, and allows event organizers the ability to create a perimeter for their events. ENJOYING THE NIGHTLIFE In Las Vegas, some attendees like gaming, while others simply spend time poolside or take in a show. “The Cirque du Soleil shows have been pop- ular for years with long runs like ‘O’ at Bellagio and ‘Beatles Love’ at Mirage,” Everett says. “Shopping is available at all price ranges from Ross to Tiffany. Other unique options include helicop- ter rides and a visit to the south rim of the Grand Canyon.” There is also a certain energy to the city that can be invigorating for attend- ees. “If we’ve learned anything in the past year, meetings can go on [virtually], but there is no replacement for the energy of an in-person event, because the emo- tional connection is stronger,” Everett says. “Las Vegas provides so many spec- tacular experiences that it also drives that emotional connection and ‘wow’ factor that attendees remember.” There are a few other cities which offer the variety of hotels, meeting facilities, restaurants, social activities and entertainment options, but Las Vegas is really unique. “If a group has not hosted a meeting there, and they don’t have any perception issues, I think they can’t go wrong, and should expect to see an increase in attendance, which benefits the hosting organiza- tion as well,” Becker says. Dumey notes Las Vegas has an end- less supply of activities, and not just for conference attendees. “Our par- ticipants often bring family and friends to help them take advantage of the amazing shows, world-class shopping, incredible restaurants and the absolute best people-watching,” she says. C&IT Courtesy of Stephanie Dumey The AICPA selected ARIA Resort & Casino and Park MGM to host its ENGAGE 2021 event. 50 October/November 2021 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com THE FUTURE OF MEETINGS IS FACE-TO-FACE. Las Vegas is changing the way people meet by amplifying experiences for the next generation of events, trade shows and meetings. Vegas is in a state of constant reinvention and innovation with dynamic meeting venues like Resorts World Las Vegas, CAESARS FORUM and Circa. Plus, a new, Tesla-propelled, underground transportation system whisks attendees across the Las Vegas Convention Center, including the new West Hall expansion. A new era of business has already begun. Don’t get left behind. PLAN NOW AT VEGASMEANSBUSINESS.COM. FAST FORWARD TO THE FUTURE OF MEETINGS Las Vegas is the type of city where you can accomplish anything thanks in large part to the high quality of event services and talented professionals available. STEPHANIE DUMEY, CMP Senior Manager, Meetings & Conferences, AICPATHE FUTURE OF MEETINGS IS FACE-TO-FACE. Las Vegas is changing the way people meet by amplifying experiences for the next generation of events, trade shows and meetings. Vegas is in a state of constant reinvention and innovation with dynamic meeting venues like Resorts World Las Vegas, CAESARS FORUM and Circa. Plus, a new, Tesla-propelled, underground transportation system whisks attendees across the Las Vegas Convention Center, including the new West Hall expansion. A new era of business has already begun. Don’t get left behind. PLAN NOW AT VEGASMEANSBUSINESS.COM. FAST FORWARD TO THE FUTURE OF MEETINGS2021 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 52 October/November 2021 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com THE BEST OF THE BEST CVB S , HOTELS, RESORTS AND CONFERENCE CENTERS2021 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE W e at Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine are proud to present the winners of our 37 th annual Awards of Excellence. We thank our subscribers — the meeting and incentive travel profession- als — for judging which hotels, resorts and conference centers best served their needs by excel- ling in staff service, accommoda- tions and meeting facilities, F&B, event setups and arrangements, ambience and accessibility. The subscribers also choose the con- vention and visitors bureaus that go above and beyond in service and support, promotional assis- tance, supplier, facility and venue information, coordination and liaison with local attractions and transportation, and comprehen- sive assistance with accommoda- tions and site inspections. While others may be con- tent to rest on their laurels, these industry-leading winners prove what it means to be ‘best in class’ by continually reinventing them- selves through renovations and rebrandings. Communicating and marketing effectively is all about making real connections through relationship building. When you make it personal, you make meet- ings and events an unqualified success. And then everyone is a winner. We salute all the win- ners of our Awards of Excel- lence on these pages and invite you to read the success stories of many of the winners featured in this annual section. TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | October/November 2021 53 THE BROADMOOR NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY PHILADELPHIA HARD ROCK ATLANTIC CITY VISIT ORLANDO ROSEN HOTELS & RESORTS TUCSONVISIT TAMPA BAY2021 WINNERS | AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE CONVENTION &. .VISITORS BUREAUS. Destination DC WASHINGTON, DC Discover Puerto Rico SAN JUAN, PR Experience Columbus COLUMBUS, OH Experience Scottsdale SCOTTSDALE, AZ Explore St. Louis ST. LOUIS, MO Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau BOSTON, MA Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau MIAMI, FL Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau RANCHO MIRAGE, CA Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau RALEIGH, NC Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority LAS VEGAS, NV Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau LONG BEACH, CA Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board LOS ANGELES, CA Marina del Rey Convention & Visitors Bureau MARINA DEL REY, CA Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau MONTEREY, CA Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. NASHVILLE, TN New Orleans & Company NEW ORLEANS, LA Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau PHILADELPHIA, PA San Diego Tourism Authority SAN DIEGO, CA Team San Jose SAN JOSE, CA Visit Charlotte CHARLOTTE, NC VisitDallas DALLAS, TX VISIT DENVER DENVER, CO Visit Fort Worth FORT WORTH, TX Visit KC KANSAS CITY, MO Visit Orlando ORLANDO, FL Visit Phoenix PHOENIX, AZ VisitPITTSBURGH PITTSBURGH, PA Visit San Antonio SAN ANTONIO, TX Visit Tampa Bay TAMPA, FL Visit Tucson TUCSON, AZ . HOTELS, RESORTS & .CONFERENCE CENTERS . ARIA Resort & Casino LAS VEGAS, NV Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa KAPOLEI, HI Bellagio Resort & Casino LAS VEGAS, NV Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa ATLANTIC CITY, NJ The Broadmoor COLORADO SPRINGS, CO Caesars Palace LAS VEGAS, NV 54 October/November 2021 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com2021 WINNERS | AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE Caribe Royale Orlando ORLANDO, FL Colonial Williamsburg Resorts WILLIAMSBURG, VA Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center NASHVILLE, TN Grand Hyatt Baha Mar NASSAU, BAHAMAS Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City ATLANTIC CITY, NJ Harrah's Resort Atlantic City ATLANTIC CITY, NJ Hilton Anatole DALLAS, TX Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa DESTIN, FL Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa SANTA ANA PUEBLO, NM JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa AVENTURA, FL JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa PHOENIX, AZ JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa SAN ANTONIO, TX La Quinta Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort LA QUINTA, CA Loews Miami Beach Hotel MIAMI BEACH, FL Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando ORLANDO, FL Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino LAS VEGAS, NV MGM Grand Detroit DETROIT, MI MGM Grand Hotel & Casino LAS VEGAS, NV Mohegan Sun UNCASVILLE, CT Ocean Reef Club KEY LARGO, FL Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa AUSTIN, TX Omni Dallas Hotel DALLAS, TX Omni Nashville Hotel NASHVILLE, TN Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate CHAMPIONSGATE, FL Orlando World Center Marriott ORLANDO, FL Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld ORLANDO, FL Rosen Centre Hotel ORLANDO, FL Rosen Plaza Hotel ORLANDO, FL Rosen Shingle Creek ORLANDO, FL Sea Island Resort SEA ISLAND, GA Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood HOLLYWOOD, FL Talking Stick Resort SCOTTSDALE, AZ Trump National Doral Miami MIAMI, FL Turning Stone Resort Casino VERONA, NY The Venetian Resort Las Vegas LAS VEGAS, NV Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa SCOTTSDALE, AZ Wynn Las Vegas LAS VEGAS, NV TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | October/November 2021 552021 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE THE BROADMOOR 37-Time Winner FACTS AND FEATURES Guest Rooms/Suites: 784 Meeting Space: 315,000+ SF T he Broadmoor and its Wilderness Experiences encom- pass 5,000 acres within the breathtaking Pikes Peak region. Colorado Springs is the perfect destination to enjoy a temperate climate, comprising 300 days of sun- shine per year and low humidity. Thanks to the beau- tiful year-round weather, visitors to The Broadmoor spend much of their time outdoors: hiking, golfing, zip lining, mountain biking, fly fishing or simply relaxing. The main resort has 784 guest rooms and suites, two cham- pionship golf courses, an award-winning spa, unique retail, and 17 diverse restaurants, cafes and lounges. The Broadmoor’s unparalleled combination of an illustrious history of innova- tion and distinctive culture of service has made it one of the country’s premier event destinations. WHAT’S NEW FOR EVENTS For more than 100 years, The Broadmoor has been hon- oring its guests, tradition and business so that you can high- light yours. With the addition of Bartolin Hall, The Broad- moor introduces the long-awaited “Convention Center at The Broadmoor.” Broadmoor Hall, International Center, Colorado Hall and Bartolin Hall offer more than 200,000 SF of flexible convention and exhibit space. Combine this with the addi- tional exhibit, breakout and boardroom venues throughout the property, and The Broadmoor now boasts more than 315,000 SF of indoor and outdoor adaptable, flexible func- tion areas. As the longest-running Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond recipient, the property continues to cultivate relationships in the meetings industry as it incorporates groundbreaking industry necessities. Nestled in the elbow of Cheyenne Mountain, nature’s playground is knocking at the resort’s back door. Whether you choose to hike the Chamberlain Trail on your way to The Broadmoor or climb the 224 steps to the top of Seven Falls, trail systems are abundant and within walking distance of The Broadmoor’s main campus. Getting here couldn’t be easier. Colorado Springs Airport, 15 minutes from the resort, offers more than 4,900 seats a day for passengers via Southwest Air- lines, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier and United. Denver International Airport, 70 minutes north of Colorado Springs, hosts more than 1,600 national and international flights daily, with connections to worldwide destinations. To book your event in The Broadmoor’s new convention space, contact Pepper Dombroski, Director of Sales, at 888-857-7343, email: sales@ broadmoor.com and visit Broadmoor.com. C&IT 56 October/November 2021 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com PEPPER DOMBROSKI Director of Sales The Broadmoor 1 Lake Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80906 Phone: 855-502-2081 sales@broadmoor.com broadmoor.comSO MANY WAYS TO MEET, ALL IN ONE MAGNIFICENT PLACE.2021 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO ATLANTIC CITY First-Time Winner T he award-winning Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City is ready to roll out the red carpet for your event. Play hard and win big at Atlantic City’s entertain- ment destination for events that top the charts: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. Set on 17-acres, with the legendary Atlantic City boardwalk as its back- drop, this 4 million-sf property truly has it all — from casino games boasting 2,250 slots, 120 table games and a Sportsbook, to entertainment, one-of-a-kind award-winning amenities and luxe accommodations. With 2,000 guest rooms and more than 150,000 sf of meet- ings and events space, Hard Rock Atlantic City can fit any bill. A variety of event venues are available to amplify your program and are designed to accommodate groups of all sizes — from intimate board meetings in more than 30 traditional and non- traditional meeting spaces, including the 29,000-sf Seminole Ballroom, to large-scale events and conferences. For the largest of gatherings, Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena can stage general sessions of 7,000 people or 300+- booth trade shows and expo events. The resort also has private oceanfront outdoor event space overlooking the iconic Atlantic City Boardwalk. The resort’s award-winning banquet and catering team is top shelf, knowing how to “mix it up” so attendees can enjoy an array of different experiences throughout their event. Team members pride themselves in making all experiences memorable, with brand experiences such as Sound of Your Stay and Memorabilia Scavenger Hunts. Hard Rock Atlantic City team members also include experts in the A/V and IT trade, offering the most up-to-date technological integrations providing special extras that transform meetings into unfor- gettable experiences. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City recently reinvested $20 million in upgrades to the iconic destination, including a new Starbucks, a refresh of beachfront amenities, and standard guest room and suite upgrades. The luxurious guest rooms and suites radiate a contemporary style, featuring stunning views of the city and the pristine Atlantic Ocean. The property offers more than a dozen food and beverage concepts, allowing guests to continuously experience new culi- nary options throughout their stay. From fine dining at Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Kuro, and Il Mulino, to casual fare at Sandpiper Coastal Bar & Grill, Sugar Factory, Hard Rock Cafe, and more, guests can take their culinary journey to new levels. To start planning your gathering, email hotelsales@hrhcac.com or call 609-449-6060. C&IT 58 October/November 2021 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com CONTACT hotelsales@hrhcac.com 609-449-6060 hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com/meetings FACTS AND FEATURES Guest Rooms/Suites: 2,000 rooms Meeting Space: 150,000+ sf of meeting & event space Special Services & Amenities: 12+ restaurants, from fine dining to casual fare, Rock Spa & Salon, Body Rock Fitness Center, indoor pool, Sound of Your Stay programGet back to taking care of business safely, soundly and in style. With 150,000 square feet of spectacular meeting space, plus 2,000 luxury hotel rooms, we have the perfect place for you to get back on track. Our newly implemented Safe + Sound procedures are in place for your peace-of-mind. We are committed to remaining FLEXIBLE in the face of evolving conditions: • Zero attrition or cancellation fees • Zero risk in rebooking BACK T BUSINESS Visit hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com/meetings or call 609-449-6060 today and receive additional booking incentives. Next >